Leon Roberts, 38, and Jade Muzoka, 27, lied about being ill and bedridden

The couple sued the hotel and tour operators Thomson, now known as TUI

But the bodybuilders uploaded 79 photos on Facebook, boasting about holiday

Judge warned them they face jail - in a bid to send a message out to others

A couple who tried to claim compensation for food poisoning on holiday were caught out when they posted images boasting about their break on social media.

Leon Roberts, 38, and mother-of-two Jade Muzoka, 27, claimed some £3,000 in damages after their week's holiday in the resort of Belek.

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The pair lied about being bedridden with vomiting and diarrhoea and sued the hotel and tour operators Thomson, now known as TUI.

The pair have now been warned they face 'another break, this time behind bars' in a bid to send a message out to others amid a 'tsunami' of false compensation claims.

Leon Roberts, 38, and mother-of-two Jade Muzoka, 27, claimed damages after their week's holiday in the resort of BelekJust days after returning home in July 2015 the bodybuilders uploaded 79 photos on Facebook boasting about their sunshine holiday, showing them guzzling drinks and dining on steak and chips and sushi. Pictured, Roberts feasting on two mealsJade Muzoka, 27, outside Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court to fraudLeon Roberts, 37, outside Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court

FALSE COMPO CLAIMS RISE SIX-FOLD IN FIVE YEARS DUE TO COLD-CALL SCAMS

The Government plans to clamp down on bogus holiday sickness claims, which are causing the cost of package holidays to soar.

There was a 500 per cent increase in holiday sickness claims between 2013 and 2016, according to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA).

Bogus claims are thought to be costing the travel industry up to £240million, pushing up holiday prices.

The problem has been fuelled by touts working in European resorts who urge holidaymakers to make bogus claims.

The upsurge of claims in Britain is not seen in other European countries, raising suspicions over the scale of bogus claims and damaging our reputation overseas.

Abta wants the measures to be in place by April so they are effective for the summer season.

Holidaymakers face up to three years in prison if found guilty of making a fraudulent claim.

Just days after returning home in July 2015 the bodybuilders uploaded 79 photos on Facebook boasting about their sunshine holiday, showing them guzzling drinks and dining on steak and chips and sushi.

Ten months later in April 2016 the couple, who both live in Derby and have a child together, filed a claim for around £3,000 damages, alleging they had suffered illness and their documents included a doctor's report.

Tui launched an investigation with the resort but could find nothing to support the allegations.

The holiday firm said the claim could have cost them £50,000 had the pair not been caught out.

At an earlier hearing both pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation in relation to after claiming their 2015 trip was ruined by food poisoning.

At Southern Derbyshire Magistrates' Court District Judge Jonathan Taffe told the former lovers he will need to pass a sentence which will 'send out a message to others'.

Tim Hunter, representing Tui, told the judge: 'Both enjoyed a holiday at the Cornelia Golf Resort and Spa in Turkey in July 2015 which passed without incident or complaint

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'Apparently from social media it appears both had a very enjoyable time.'

He added: 'Their claim was false.'

TUI said the claim could have cost them £50,000 had the pair not been caught outAdjourning the case Judge Taffe said it appeared the matter had 'crossed' the custody threshold and he would be considering a jail sentenceDespite alleging to be struck down with a bout of sickness, the pair then posted numerous photos of themselves in the sunshine resortThe bodybuilders have now been warned they face jail amid a government clampdown on false compensation claims Both Roberts' and Muzoka's solicitors questioned the figure, saying the claim against Tui was never persuedMuzoka had mentioned that she had felt ill while on holiday and her friend told her she could make a claim, the court heard

OTHER COUPLES PROSECUTED FOR FALSE CLAIMS

In October 2017 Deborah Briton, 53, and her partner Paul Roberts, 43, tried to claim compensation by stating they and their two children had fallen ill on holidays to Majorca in 2015 and 2016.

But the couple's social media showed posts where they boasted of holidays full of 'sun, laughter and fun'.

Briton was sentenced to nine months in prison after admitting four counts of fraud in the private prosecution, brought by Thomas Cook.

Roberts was sentenced to 15 months after admitting the same offences.

In July 2017 Julie Lavelle, 33, and her partner Michael McIntyre, 34, were ordered to pay Thomas Cook £3,744 compensation.

The pair had demanded £10,000 after claiming they and their two children had vomiting and diarrhoea during their stay at the Parque Cristobal Hotel on Gran Canaria in 2013.

But Mr McIntyre allegedly had six pints of beer in Las Palmas Airport before flying back to the UK when he was meant to have gastroenteritis.

And a survey they filled out on the plane said the holiday had been either good or excellent in all areas.

They also did not mention their condition to hotel staff or tour representatives.

The couple were taken to county court in Liverpool where Thomas Cook secured its first victory in its campaign against sickness claims.

Both Roberts' and Muzoka's solicitors questioned the figure, saying the claim against Tui was never persued.

Nicola Hunter, representing part-time worker Muzoka, said she became involved in the scam after speaking with a colleague. She admitted it was an 'exaggerated claim'.

Muzoka had mentioned that she had felt ill while on holiday and her friend told her she could make a claim, Ms Hunter told the court.

After signing some documents, Muzoka 'thought no more of it'.

Ms Hunter told the court Muzoka later moved home and had a baby and 'heard nothing about the claim for some time'.

When she was eventually contacted about it she quickly dropped the case and was hit with a £600 bill from her 'no win, no fee' solicitors.

Ms Hunter also described Tui's investigation as 'basic' saying they had only 'checked on Facebook'.

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Adjourning the case Judge Taffe said it appeared the matter had 'crossed' the custody threshold and he would be considering a jail sentence.

He added: 'That is in the forefront of my mind, it would be flying in the face of common sense to think this is an isolated incident.

'It is a very real problems for the holiday companies. The costs are inevitably passed on to genuine people, while others who do suffer illness on their holidays have their claims met with scepticism.

'This offence is outside the (sentencing) guidelines because it encourages a tsunami of false claims.

'All options are open at this stage and this is a serious case and it may be that a custodial sentence will follow to show the importance of your wrongdoing.'

Holidaymakers face up to three years in prison if found guilty of making a fraudulent claim - and the couple have been warned they face jail Muzoka defence said she quickly dropped the case and was hit with a £600 bill from her 'no win, no fee' solicitorsThe judge told the pair: 'It would be flying in the face of common sense to think this is an isolated incident'The couple were also told by the judge: 'All options are open at this stage and this is a serious case and it may be that a custodial sentence will follow to show the importance of your wrongdoing'Their claims 'encourage a tsunami of false claims' the court was told

One in five Britons (19 per cent), or around 9.5million people, have been approached about making a compensation claim for holiday sickness, according to a recent survey.

Travel trade organisation Abta, which commissioned the poll, warned that claims management firms are cold calling millions of people, urging them to make false claims.

This is despite sickness reports in resorts remaining stable and travellers from other countries not experiencing the same issues.

Abta found the most common way people are being contacted by claims management companies is over the phone (14 per cent), followed by text message (seven per cent) and email (seven per cent).

Others were approached on social media (three per cent) or in person (two per cent), including at airports.

The pair lied about being bedridden with vomiting and diarrhoea and sued the hotel and tour operators Thomson, now known as TUIAt an earlier hearing both pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation in relation to after claiming their 2015 trip was ruined by food poisoning. The now await sentencing

The survey of 2,029 adults revealed that more than two-thirds (70 per cent) are unaware that making a false claim could result in a prison sentence in the UK or abroad.

ABTA Chief executive Mark Tanzer said: 'Unscrupulous claims management companies are encouraging people to make a false sickness claim which could land them with a large fine or even a prison sentence.

'False claims don't just make UK holidaymakers vulnerable to serious penalties - they're also costing travel companies and hotel owners tens of millions of pounds and tarnishing the reputation of the British abroad.

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'Closing the loophole in the law in time for the 2018 holiday season will make a big difference in tackling fraudulent sickness claims.'

HOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT PLAN TO CLAMP DOWN ON BOGUS COMPENSATION CLAIMS?

Ministers announced last year they plan to reduce cash incentives to bring spurious claims against package holiday tour operators.

Under these proposals tour operators would pay a prescribed sum depending on the value of the claim, making the cost of defending a claim predictable.

A system to control costs already exists for most personal injury claims in England and Wales, but a loophole is being exploited in foreign holiday claims.

To prevent this ministers asked the Civil Procedure Rule Committee, which is responsible for setting rules on legal costs, to urgently look at the rules governing the costs of holiday claims.

As a result of these proposed changes, fixed recoverable costs can be extended to cover claims arising abroad, closing the loophole and meaning that pay-outs for tour operators will be subject to stricter controls.

The vast majority of holidaymakers will not make false claims, and those with genuine claims will still be able to claim damages. But these changes will crack down on those who do make bogus claims and help stop the price of package holidays soaring for the honest majority.

The government will also be bringing forward proposals to tackle the continuing high number and cost of whiplash claims via the Civil Liability Bill.

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Leon Roberts, 38, and mother-of-two Jade Muzoka, 27, claimed damages after their week's holiday in the resort of Belek

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Just days after returning home in July 2015 the bodybuilders uploaded 79 photos on Facebook boasting about their sunshine holiday, showing them guzzling drinks and dining on steak and chips and sushi. Pictured, Roberts feasting on two meals